Last year, EA infused the atmosphere of college basketball into March Madness. The dull, clunky gameplay wasn’t worth the effort, but the style of the game was intact. This year, carrying the massively improved NBA Live engine with it and game altering post moves, this series is finally competitive in this generation.

Everything that worked for NBA Live 08 works for March Madness. The flow, natural feel of the animation, and tighter controls come into play for college fanatics. While wildly different from its competition at 2K Sports, this is an engine that carry both pro and college franchises for the entire generation.

On the college side of things, the post game is the key. Multiple indicators pop up on court to show the player when there’s a mismatch or advantage. Once the ball is low, a staggering array of moves can be made to get inside, or play it safe. Hook shots, power charges, fade aways, or the ability to beat the defender off the dribble are all opportunities to score.

The defensive side of the ball isn’t helpless, with the right analog stick allowing for a quick shift either behind or in front of the offensive player. If the ball reaches the inside spot, you can attempt to take a charge, or use the effective Lockdown Stick, something EA’s basketball titles have needed for years. This essentially prevents sloppy movements of the analog sticks from being a useful offensive strategy by “sticking” the defender on the player they’re guarding.

On both sides of the ball, these subtle yet critical features enhance the title. The ability to control the ball with the means available is impressive, as is the depth these maneuvers create. Sadly, this focus neglects other positions, as the now standard set of jukes are the only options available for outside players.

Commentary is quickly becoming stale, and even with a sideline reporter addition this year, Dick Vitale and Brad Nessler need to record new phrases. The graphics remain sharp, and the crowd is active at the right moments. However, the game is excessively dark, lacking the brighter tones of College Hoops 2K8.

Off the court, the menus reveal few, if any, changes. Thirty-two-player leagues offer a nicely flexible schedule, and dynasty mode allows for players to watch simulated games, and if need be, take control at any given point. The School Pride feature returns with no changes, allowing you to purchase additional equipment for your players or even build new facilities.

To the naked eye or casual player, it will be easy to miss how in-depth the controls have become. To those investing the time, they’ll find a game-enriching feature that pulls March Madness close to the pinnacle of college basketball titles. There’s work left to do, but this is the right course for this series.

NCAA March Madness 08 is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB. This game can also be found on: PS2, PS3,.